Window enclosure



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Oct. 3, 1961 Filed March 13, 1956 United States Patent 3,002,236 WINDOW ENCLOSURE Ferdinand W. Humphner, 1201 Park Ave., River Forest, 1]]. Filed Mar. 13, 1956, Ser. No. 571,164 2 Claims. (Cl. 20-40) This invention relates to a window enclosure, and more particularly to a one-piece plastic enclosure which may be employed on the outside or the inside of a window and utilized also for the enclosure of window air conditioning units, etc.

This application constitutes a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 443,773, filed July 16, 1954, now Patent No. 2,826,472, issued March 11, 1958.

The use of storm windows and the use of storm windows which provide an enclosure for window type air conditioners has long presented a difiicult problem for homes and buildings. Not only do the problems arise in the sale and installation of such equipment, but the owner of the home or building is later confronted with difficulties in the operation of the structure. If the air conditioner is left in the window for the year around, the room becomes drafty and more heat is lost, thus requiring additional heat to be brought into the house or room for comfort. If the unit is to be taken out each season, there is substantial expense in the removal and later reinstallation. Further, there is the problem of preventing insects, etc. from entering at the window section which must be raised. There is the further everpresent possibility of an accident when taking the unit in and outthe danger that someone may lift a window which is holding a unit in place and allow it to fall out and there is the danger of tampering with the unit when it is located close to the ground. The problems above enumerated are even greater where window units are installed in high buildings and where installation of an outer storm window enclosure is impracticable.

The storm window itself, wholly apart from the use of a protective enclosure for air conditioning units, has also long presented a problem in that such heavy window enclosures have to be installed on the outside and present a hazard at the time of each installation and removal. Further, such heavy structures cannot be readily secured in a tight or sealing relation to the building frame, and cracks appear about the window frame due to the shrinkage or expansion of the storm window. The use of flexible thin plastic film over windows is unsatisfactory due to the wrinkling of such structures under the force of wind, etc., and due to the lack of rigidity therein. There has long been a need for a lightweight one-piece storm window structure which can be readily and securely installed and which will provide the rigidity required for a storm window under Windstorm conditions. There has also long been a need for a storm window structure which could be installed interiorly of the building and about the window frame as well as on the outside of the window. There has long been a need for such a storm window structure adapted for inside as well as outside installation, while providing an enclosure seal about window ventilator or air conditioner units, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide a window enclosure structure meeting the above needs and the problem outlined. A further object is to provide a method and means whereby storm window enclosures can be provided for installation on the inside or outside of a window frame while providing a complete one-piece seal for the window opening and enclosing air conditioner or other ventilation units. A still further object is to provide a method and means whereby a rigid transparent window frame formed of plastic can be fashioned from simple 3 ,002,235 Patented Oct. 3, 1961 measurements and in a minimum of time to fit a selected window either from the inside or outside, while at the same time avoiding weakening of the structure along corners or bends, and, in fact, reinforcing the structure along such areas. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in illustrative embodiments, by the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a storm window and air conditioner unit enclosure embodying my invention and shown applied to a window frame; FIG. 2, a perspective view of the storm window and enclosure separate from the window frame; FIG. 3, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 33 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4, a broken sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 44 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5, a perspective view of a modified form of storm window and unit enclosure formed in a manner to provide great strength while also providing reinforcing beams or ribs, etc.; FIG. 6, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6-6 of FIG. 5; FIG. 7, a vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 77 of FIG. 6; FIG. 8, a perspective view of a storm window which does not provide an enclosure for an air conditioner unit and which is reinforced to provide a rigid plastic structure; FIG. 9, a vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 9-9 of FIG. 8; FIG. 10, a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the same type of window equipped with rounded reinforcing ribs; FIG. 11, a broken detail view of a window structure showing the storm window applied to the outside of the window frame; FIG. 12, a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the plastic window applied to the inside of a window; FIG. 13, a detail sectional view showing a clamp device for securing the edge of the plastic window; FIG. 14, a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the clamp pressed downwardly into engagement with the plastic window edge; FIG. 15, a detail sectional view of a modified form of clamp which may be employed; FIG. 16, a view similar to FIG. 15 but showing the window edge engaged by the clamp of FIG. 15; FIG. 17, a broken sectional view showing a form apparatus which may be employed in the shaping of a plastic window to fit selected measurements; FIG. 18, a view similar to FIG. 17 but showing the plastic sheet being subjected to heat for the forming of the plastic window; FIG. 19, a sectional detail view of the form apparatus shown in FIGS. 17 and 18; FIG. 20, a side elevational view of telescoping tubes employed in the form apparatus shown in FIGS. 17 and 18; and FIG. 21, a perspective view of the form apparatus shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the parts shown in spacedapart relation.

In the illustration given in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, I provide a plastic sheet 10 reinforced in its lower portion by an outwardly-projecting box-like enclosure 11. The sides of the sheet 10 overlap the window frame 12, and the bottom portion of the window below the enclosure 11 is also provided with a depending flap portion 13 lying against the sill 14 of the window. These overlapping portions of the plastic window enclosure may be secured to the window frame by adhesive or mastic, or, if desired, by fastening elements such as, for example, those described hereinafter more fully in connection with FIGS. 13 to 16, inclusive. The use of such fastening elements permits rapid attachment of the plastic Window and detachment thereof for storage.

Any suitable plastic may be employed for forming the one-piece window enclosure described. Polystyrene provides a sturdy and very satisfactory window, but other well-known plastics such as nylon, polyethylene, Mylar, vinyl or polyvinyl chloride, and plastic combinations may be employed.

While the upper portions of the plastic window are fairly well supported by their connection to the window frame, the lower expanse of the window becomes progressively more difficult to support, but by employing the enclosure body 11 as an integral part of the sheet, I find that such a rectangular body provides in effect a beam support for the frame, giving the window stability and storm-weathering ability while at the same time providing an enclosure for air conditioning or ventilating units, etc. Since the seal is effected all along the outer area of the plastic window, there are no cracks or crevices through which air currents may pass into the house or through which insects may find their way into the interior of the window structure; also, the enclosure is effective against the ingress of sand, etc. during windstorms.

While the one-piece plastic window covering is of great utility as far as sealing the window area is concerned, a primary problem has been to provide a structure sufficiently thin to have the clearness or transparency desired for the window and the lightness desired for a storm window frame, while at the same time giving the rigidity needed to withstand rain and storm without buckling or wrinkling, etc. In the structure shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, I have provided a one-piece window covering which is highly effective, even when formed of thin plastic .material, in providing the desired rigidity. In this structure, the main panel body 15 of the Window merges at its sides into side panels 16 which extend at right angles thereto, and finally the side panels 16 merge into body panels 17 which extend at right angles to the side panels 16. I have found that the side panels 16, even when of short depth, provide an unusual rigid beam-like support for the main panels 15 and that these may be anchored firmly in place by the body panels or ledges 17. The sides or side panels 16 may extend substantially at right angles to the main panel 15, or may be arcuately formed. By side panels, I means not only the vertical panels 16 but also the top and bottom side panels 16, as shown more clearly in FIG. 7.

With the main body 15 there is merged an air conditioner enclosure 18. The top portion of the unit 18 is provided with molded ribs 19 forming a rigid frame therefor, and similarly vertical ribs 20 and horizontal ribs 21 are formed in the window panel 15. With this structure, the cross-ribs 20 and 21 cooperate with the inwardlyinclined side walls 16 to provide an extremely rigid support for the Window panel, and similarly such a support is provided for the enclosure 18 bythe outwardly-formed ribs or braces 19. By securing the attachment flanges 17 rigidly to the outside of the window frame or to the inside thereof, I findthat the inclined sides 16 about the frame provide a stiffening support of great strength and that through the cooperating effect of the ribs 20 and 21, great stability is given to the thin plastic window structure.

In the modification set out in FIGS. 8 to 16, inclusive, I provide a storm Window adapted to be secured to the inside or outside of a window frame and comprising a main panel 22 divided into four panels by the reinforcing ribs 23 and 24. The main panel 22 merges into the side panels 25, as shown best in FIG. 9, and the sides 25, whether at the top, bottom, or along the vertical edges of the main panel 22, merge at their edges with the retainer or border panel 26. The border panel 26 is provided with a plurality of transverse annular grooves 27 wh ch may be utilized in anchoring the window borders to the window frame. Further, such ridge-like ribs provide lines along which the border can be severed when it is desired to reduce it in width, etc. In the structure shown in FIG. 10, a laminated plastic sheet 28 is employed and the ribs 29 formed therein are arcuate in shape. The combined structure forms a reinforcing side panel 39 and terminates in border panels 31. With the structure shown, as well as with a single ply sheet, border portions may be formed of one color while the central portion of the sheet may be transparent, thus giving the effect of a window frame enclosing transparent panels.

The adaptability of the storm Window for application to the outside or to the inside of a. window frame is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIG. 11, the window 22 is shown applied to the outside of the window frame 31 in which is slidably mounted the usual window 32 supporting a glass panel 33. In FIG. 12, the plastic window 22 is secured to the inside frame member 34, and in this structure the side wall 25 extends alongside the inner edge or" the window frame. The border 26 is secured to the frame by means of a clamp 35. This window may, if desired, have an enclosure box, as illustrated in FIG. 7, for receiving the inner portion of an air conditioner unit; often a smaller enclosure will be needed for the inside portion of the unit.

The clamp structure 35 is shown in detail in FIGS. 13 and 14, and in FIG. 14, the upper finger 36 of the clamp 35 is shown compressed upon the border 26v of the plastic window 22. The clamp is secured by a nail 37 to the window frame member 34.

In FIGS. 15 and 16, a second form of clamp 38 is shown secured by the nail 39 to the window frame member 34, and in FIG. 16 the clamp is shown in interlocking engagement with a hooked edge portion 40 of the plastic window border panel 26a. The attachment means shown are purely illustrative of devices which may be employed for readily anchoring the edges of the plastic window to the ordinary window frame.

For the application of the plastic windows heretofore described, whether employed solely as storm windows or employed as storm windows providing enclosures for air conditioning units, it is only necessary for the installer to measure the window of the building to which the plastic window is to be applied, and then adjust form apparatus to such measurements, after which a plastic sheet is placed upon the form apparatus and quickly drawn to the desired shape, the shapes being those above described. The attachment borders can be trimmed, if desired, or initially may be'formed of such a size as to fit the window in question.

In FIGS. 17 to 21, inclusive, I have shown illustrative or suitable form apparatus which may be employed in the ready fabrication of the form to fit a selected window. In the structure illustrated, I provide a table base 41 equipped on its underside with avacuum hood 42 having a vacuum, line 43 communicating therewith, the base 41 being provided with air flow vents or openings through which air can pass from the area above the base 41. Mounted upon the base 41 are standards 44 which support at their top angularly-related tubes 45 into which extension tubes 46 are telescopically received. The tubes 45 may be provided with slots 47 near their ends and clamping flanges 48 and 49 are adapted to be brought together by a clamping screw 50 to secure the tubes 45 to the telescoping tubes 46. The tubes 45 are provided with vertically-extending tubes 51 and the slidable tubes 46 with vertical tubes 52, and upon such tubes are slidably mounted frame members 53 which in turn have telescoping tube parts of the character already described,

- whereby the form can be expanded or contracted, as

desired.

To extend between the tubes already described, '1 provide a series of platens 54, 55, 56 and 57, which are adapted to fit between the tubular form for a selected window, and I equip the platens with magnet members 58 so that they remain in position on the metal tubes. Certain of the platens, as, for example, platen 54, may be equipped with spaced ribs 59 and 60 to form ribs in the final molded sheet.

The tubular posts 44 may be secured within the base 41 by any suitable means. In the illustration given best in FIG. 19, the posts are received within a collar member 61 having a tapered threaded portion 62 slotted along one side andv a nut 63 is employed to tighten the collar 22 about the tubev 44.

As, illustrated best in FIGS. 17 and 18, av sheet of plastic 64 is placed over the form, and then secured to the edges of the plate 41 by clamps 65. The form is then passed under a series of infrared lamps 66 and under the regulated heat imposed by the lamps, the sheet assumes the contour of the form, as illustrated in FIG. 18. The molded window having the reinforcing ribs therein is formed rapidly and accurately to the various shapes heretofore described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 12, inclusive. The suction imposed through the hood 42 cooperates with the heat directed upon the thermoplastic body to cause the sheet to assume the desired form.

One difliculty encountered in the forming of the window is that the plastic, under the influence of the\vacuum, tends to thin out at the corner or joint portions. I have found that by applying a mask or screen at the juncture points, I prevent the stretching or thinning out of the film and create a much stronger joint or curve. The drawing of the sheet at such points is reduced, since it thus receives less heat and cannot flow as readily. Such a mask or screen is indicated by the numeral 67 in FIG. 19. It will be understood that such masks or screens may be employed at any of the desired juncture areas between the angularly-related panels.

While I have shown the ribs or reinforcing bars formed in straight lines, it will be understood that these may be arranged in various decorative, pictorial or attractive designs for reinforcing the transparent panels. Further, instead of forming sharp angular bends, the reinforcing ribs or side panels, etc. can be drawn along gentle curves while imparting rigid strong support to the main panels. The ribs may be formed not only by the molding operation described, but also by laminating them to Wire, glass fiber filaments, plastic strips, etc. Through the use of plastic which has known dimensional stabilities and instabilities, the combined properties of the various plastics can be utilized in giving a plastic window of great strength. The laminated plastic sheets may be bonded together by adhesive or may be integrated through known heat processes.

The new window or enclosure unit, while providing multisection panels forming the desired windows, etc., remains a single or one-piece structure combining in itself its own support or framework and which may be employed as a disposable unit or re-used for several seasons, or employed as a permanent structure for continuous use. When installed on the outside of the window, the edge panels and the cross-ribs give it great supporting strength; when installed on the inside, little, if any, sweating takes place on the inside of the window while at the same time the side panels permit the transparent panels to be moved inwardly toward the glass panes.

In the drawing operation, the main Window portion may be formed in one operation and the box or enclosure 18 formed in a separate drawing operation, the

two parts being then joined by adhesive or heat-sealing, etc. to form the composite window shown in FIG. 7. Further, a window as shown in FIG. 8 and elsewhere may be formed in separate panels and the panels then united by adhesive, heat-sealing, etc. By this means, large windows can be expeditiously and inexpensively formed.

The window, equipped with sidewalls, may also be used to enclose and seal a fireplace, thus preventing heat from escaping through the fireplace when it is not in use and also preventing soot or foreign material from being blown into the room from the fireplace. The window or enclosure may be sprung into sealing engagement with the fireplace by reason of the resilient window sidewalls and the sidewalls may be shaped to provide a fit with the fireplace walls.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of my invention, such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A window covering adapted to enclose a window and an airconditioning unit mounted in said window, said covering comprising a plastic resin body molded to fit said window frame and having an integral transparent 1 window panel, said body below said panel being projected outwardly to provide a container for said unit, said container and window panel being integral and said container providing a box-like base supporting said window panel.

2. A window covering, comprising a unitary plastic resin body molded to fit a window frame and having an integral transparent window portion merging at its outer edges with angularly-extending rigid side sections, said side sections merging at their periphery with edge attachment webs substantially parallel with said transparent window portion, the lower portion of said resin body extending outwardly to form a box adapted to receive an air conditioning unit.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,298,783 Burnett Oct. 13, 1942 2,493,153 Martin Jan. 3, 1950 2,514,316 Dobrin July 4, 1950 2,569,941 Mastrangelo et al Oct. 2, 1951 2,572,764 Rogers et a1 Oct. 23, 1951 2,690,593 Abercrombre Oct. 5, 1954 2,711,769 Katcher et a1. June 28, 1955 2,766,808 Kleiber et a1 Oct. 16, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 655,998 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1 

